Method for measurement of concentration of substance

Abstract

A method for measurement of the concentration of a substance diffusable through inert membranes has a measuring electrode of metal, an electrolyte chamber containing electrolyte, a lipophilous membrane partially covering the measuring electrode and located between the measuring electrode and the electrolyte, and a reference electrode, wherein the substance is H 2 O 2 , the combined membrane contains lipophilous ions and/or carrier-bound ions, the base membrane is proton impermeable, and the measuring electrode is formed as anode.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims: 
     
       1. A method for determining the concentration of H 2  O 2  by the steps of: providing a metal measuring electrode, a reference electrode, a proton impermeable lipophilious base membrane containing both a carrier and ions selected form the group consisting of lipophilious ions, carrier bound ions, and both lipophilious and carrier bound ions, and an electrolyte chamber containing an electrolyte; and locating said electrodes adjacent said chamber wherein said base membrane seals said measuring electrode from direct contact with said electrolyte; providing a polorization voltage across said electrodes; providing circuit indicating means operationaly connected to said electrodes; providing H 2  O 2  in said electrolyte; and determining H 2  O 2  concentration from said indicating means. 
     
     
       2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said ions provided are anions. 
     
     
       3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said carrier bound ions provided are cations. 
     
     
       4. A method as defined in claim 3, wherein said carrier bound ions provided are potassium ions. 
     
     
       5. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said carrier provided is valinomycin. 
     
     
       6. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said carrier provided is a cation carrier of high mobility and specific for protons. 
     
     
       7. A method as defined in claim 6, wherein said carrier provided is tri-ni-dodecylamine. 
     
     
       8. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said voltage provided is by a polarization voltage source having a plus pole connected with said measuring electrode. 
     
     
       9. A method as defined in claim 1, and further providing a closure membrane arranged to close said electrolyte chamber from outside. 
     
     
       10. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein said closure membrane provided is permeable to H 2  O 2 . 
     
     
       11. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein said electrolyte chamber provided is also formed as a reaction chamber which contains an enzyme converting a substance diffusable through said closure membrane into said electrolyte with formation of H 2  O 2 . 
     
     
       12. A method as defined in claim 11, wherein said enzyme provided is in a water solution. 
     
     
       13. A method as defined in claim 11, wherein said enzyme provided is structure bound. 
     
     
       14. A method as defined in claim 11, wherein said closure membrane provided is permeable for small molecules and impermeable for large molecules. 
     
     
       15. A method as defined in claim 11, wherein said enzyme provided is glucose-oxidase, said closure membrane provided being permeable to glucose and glucon-acid-lactone. 
     
     
       16. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said electrodes, said base membrane and said chamber provided, together form an integrated implantable unit. 
     
     
       17. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said electrodes with said base membrane and said chamber are provided with a polarization voltage source and together form an integrated implantable unit. 
     
     
       18. A method as define in claim 1, wherein said reference electrode provided is composed of a noble metal and formed as a cathode covered with a membrane. 
     
     
       19. A method as defined in claim 18, wherein said membrane which covers said reference electrode comprises a proton carrier. 
     
     
       20. A method as define in claim 18, wherein said membrane covering said reference electrode comprises tri-n-dodecylamine. 
     
     
       21. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said base membrane provided is composed of polyvinylchloride. 
     
     
       22. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said base membrane provided is composed of silicon rubber. 
     
     
       23. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said measuring electrode provided is composed of a noble metal.